Meet our real wedding couple, Caoimhe & Donal. They planned their beautiful wedding day within a year and kept to their realistic budget choosing to invest in the elements that really meant the most to them.
Couple: Caoimhe & Donal
Engagement length: 19 months (engaged March 2024)
Wedding date: 2025-09-13
Wedding venue: Moyvalley Hotel & Balyna House
Wedding photographer: JMF Wedding Photography
'Donal and I met in the Roost in Maynooth back in 2014, we were both still in college. We both got a ping on our phone that Nelson Mandela had died, and the conversation flowed from there!'
Ten years on the couple got engaged after a night at the rugby, as Caoimhe explained:
'We had been out in Ranelagh watching the rugby. We came home, a little merry, and ordered a pizza. I turned on the telly and RTÉ were showing Westlife live at Croke Park. I was dancing along to the telly when I turned around, and there he was down on one knee.
He said it was the happiest he’d seen me in awhile, and that’s why it felt like the right moment!'
After a recommendation from her bridesmaid, Caoimhe and Donal chose to marry at Moyvalley;
'The venue was only about half an hour from us. We had priced other venues and by far Moyvalley provided the most value for money. I was blown away when I saw both the Stonehouse and Balyna House, and once the wedding coordinator brought me to the cellar bar I knew this was the venue for us!'
With a simple theme of fresh green and white and plenty of handmade pieces from all the family including the seating chart and table names, confetti bags and Tayto sandwich boxes.
Caoimhe wore an A-line ivory gown from Wed2B and accessorised with items borrowed from family and friends. She carried a stunning dried flower handtie bouquet in pretty pastel shades by The Petal Plot.
'I wore my Aunty’s veil and headband from the year 2000, and wore another Aunty’s wedding earrings. I wore my late grandmother’s necklace, and my Mam reinforced her garter and I wore that too!'
Donal wore a lovely deep green suit from Massimo, with ox blood shoes.
Caoimhe's brother walked her down the aisle to her Humanist ceremony with Donal waiting to receive her at the top of the beautiful aisle.
'Friends and family did readings, and we had a Harpist perform throughout. She played Metallica, The Cure, The Corrs and a song from Tangled.
We had our Mothers light the unity candles. We also did a ring warming where our rings were passed around to our guests and they made a little wish for us.
Donal and I did not write our own vows, but I had our celebrant read out “The Story of Us” which gave our guests an insight into our relationship.'
Our photographer:
Justin was unbelievable. He was responsive right up until the wedding day, checking in with us. Before the wedding we had a phone call where we went through the order of the day, and I requested some specific photographs I would like taken on the day. Justin didn’t miss a beat on the day! His style was natural and candid, which is just what we wanted. I have so many photographs of family and friends enjoying the day, which I will cherish.
Favourite Memory
The ceremony itself was just beautiful. Amy Browne was our celebrant, and she made the ceremony so personal to us and we received so many compliments.
I also really enjoyed doing the confetti throw but I will warn future brides, it gets EVERYWHERE!
Advice for other couples
We planned our wedding in just over a year with a realistic budget. Do not spend outside of your means and put yourselves in a difficult position financially. To your guests this is one day, they aren’t going to care if you had a light up dance floor or not if isn’t in your budget! Put your focus into good food and a good DJ.
Recommended Suppliers
Wedding venue: Moyvalley Hotel & Balyna House
Wedding photographer: JMF Wedding Photography
Flowers: The Petal Plot
Musician: Sinéad Walshe Harpist
Other Suppliers
DJ: Soundguys.ie | Hair: Joanne B Hairstylist | Makeup: Celine Slamon Make Up | Cake: Anna Burkes Cakes | Celebrant: Amy Browne Humanist |
